Pegboard sign



May 14, 1963 K. G. MCKIERNAN PEGBOARD SIGN Filed March 5, 1960 FIG.|

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ATT'Ys States U it@ The present invention relates to display signs, particularly to a type of display design whose most practical utility is in window, wall and counter display signs for stores and the like.

Display signs of this type have heretofore been proposed which include a mounting frame into which selected letters, numbers and other indicia-forming elements may be placed or from which they may be removed so that the sign may be changed by the user at will. However, hese display signs have not been entirely satisfactory from many standpoints. ln many instances, the indiciaforming elements are supported in channels along which they are slid into position to form the desired sign. This type of display sign is not very attractive and is -somewhat cumbersome to change. ln other instances, the indiciayforming elements are mounted on the outside of a mounting frame to give a three dimensional effect which is highly attractive, but the constructional features of these signs have not enabled the indicia-forming elements to be changed without diiculty or to be slightly -adjusted in position to vary the letter, number or word spacing involved a little where desired.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a display sign which overcomes the aforesaid and other disadvantages heretofore encountered. More specically, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a three dimensional display sign having a mounting board and indicia-forming element construction where the individual indicia-forming elements may be mounted en or removed from the board quickly and easily. A related object of the present invention is to provide a display sign as just described where the mounting board and indicia-forming elements thereof are of simple and economical construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display sign as just described wherein the mounting board is provided with equally spaced columns of indicia mounting means andthe indicia-forming elements are provided with simple means for readily shifting the inalicia-forming elements horizon-tally on the mounting board a distance less than the spacing between successive columns of the indicia mounting means on the mounting board.

In accordance with a preferred -form of the present invention, the mounting board comprises a pegboard or the like having rows and columns of socket openings which are spaced relatively closely together so that the indiciaforrning elements encompass several rows of the socket openings and, except for very narrow indicia-forming elements, several columns of the socket openings. The individual indicia-forming elements are most advantageously molded synthetic plastic bodies provided with recesses or sockets on 'the inner sides thereof. The recesses or sockets -formed in the indicia Ibodies are preferably arranged in horizontally spaced pairs, the spacing between the sockets of each pair -being appreciably less than the spacing between successive columns of socket openings in the mounting board. A resilient contracti-b-le plug member is removably -supported in only one of the sockets of: each pair thereof in the indicia body, only the corresponding sockets of each pair containing a plug member at any given time. Thus by placing a plug member in one or the other of each pair of sockets, each indiciaforming element may have one of two possible positions for cach set of mounting board socket openings selected arent to receive the plug members of the indicia-forming` element involved. This feature in cooperation with the close spacing of the socket openings of the mounting board relative to the size of the indicia-forming elements permit the ready adjustment of the spacing between letters, words, etc. in Iboth horizontal and vertical directions.

The plug members may ybe removably mounted in the sockets of the indicia bodies in a number of ways, the most preferred way being to thread the indicia body sockets and the inner lportions of the plug members so that the latter may be -threadedly received within the indicia body sockets. Alternatively, the plug members may be press fitted within the lattersockets. The removability of the plugs in addition to the advantage of providing a ltine adjustment of the horizontal positions of the indicia-forming elements also enable the sizes of the plug |members to be varied to permit use of the same indicia-forming elements on mounting boards having varying sizes of socket openings with the same or -similar sp-acing.

The portion of each plug member which lits within the mounting board socket openings most advantageously has an outer tapered portion which is smaller in size at its outer end than the latter socket openings so as to effect the easy guiding of the plug member thereinto. The inner endof the outer tapered portion of each plug member is normally larger than the ymounting boand socket openings so that the plug members are resiliently held in place therein. It is apparent that practically all adjustments and changes made in the display sign of the present invention are simply made from the `front of the mounting board.

Other objects, advantages and Ifeatures of the invention will become apparent upon making reference to the specitication to follow, the claims and the drawings where- FIG. l is a perspective view of a display sign constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional View through one of the letters in the display sign of FIG. l, taken substantially along section line 2 2` therein; e

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the letter shown in FIG. 2; n

FlG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the letter in FIG. 3, taken substantially along section line 4---4y therein;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a display sign of the present invention using a modified'v letter construction;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the letter us'ed in the display sign shown in FIG. 5;

IFIG. 7 is 'an -elevational view of the portion of the display sign shown in FIG. 5;

FlG. 8 is la vertical sectional view through a display sign using a letter having plug members constructed from sheet metal stamp'ings;

FIG. 9 is .a plan view of a sheet metal stamping fromV dividual letters, numbers or other indicia-forming elements 6 which are individually placeable upon or remov able 'from the mounting board 2. In accordancev with a less preferred form of the present invention illustrated" in FIGS. 2-4, the indicia-forming elements 6 have a num- Patented May 14, 1963v aosaaes ber of permanently `anchored tapered plug members 8 projecting vfrom the rear thereof which are insertable into the socket openings 4 of the mounting boar-d Z. It is most advantageous, however, to provide means for varying the positions of the plug members on the backs of the indiciaorming elements -so that slight adjustments in the horizontal placement of the indicia-forming elements 6 can be made Awhich are independent of the spacing between the mounting board socket openings. This torm of the invention is illustrated in IFIGS. 5 through 7. The indicia-forming elements `6 `are provided with tinger-receiving recesses .10 so that the letters may be readily grasped land removed from lthe mounting board 2. Although in accordance with a broader aspect of the invention the plug members may take a variety of forms, three preferred forms of plug members are respectively shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8. Now that the component parts of the display sign of the present invention have been briefly introduced, the specic details thereof will now be described.

In all of the forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the indicia-forming elements include a molded body of synthetic plastic material having a at vertical :front wall 12 from the margins of which rearwardly extend side walls 14 terminating in a plane parallel to the front wall 12. At various points on the rear of each indicia body .are formed bosses 15 which have cylindrical sockets or Irecesses 16 formed therein which open in a direction facing rearwardly of the indicia body. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the plug members 8 associated with each indicia body are permanently mounted within the various sockets 16 :as by adhesively or otherwise cementing the plug members within the sockets 16. The number of sockets 16 formed in a given indicia body depends, of course, upon the size of the indicia-forming element involved, and the spacing thereof corresponds with the spacing of corresponding socket openings 4 in the mounting board 2. In the embodiments of the'invention illustrated in the drawings, eac-h indicia body is provided with three vertically spaced plug members `spaced to extend into the socket openings in three-spaced rows of socket openings in the mounting board 2, and, because of the width of the lletters illustrated, horizon-tally spaced plug members arranged to extend into socket `openings in two spaced columns of socket openings in the mounting board 2.

The plug member 8 shown in the embodiment of the invention of lFIGS. 2 through 4 may be made of any suitable resilient material, which may be a synthetic plastic material or even metal. The plug member 8 has a circular-crosssection, cylindrical base portion 8a (FIG. 2) adapted to iit within any of the sockets 16, and an outwardly flaring intermediate portion 8b which merges with an outer tapered portion 8c. The narrow outer end of the tapered portion `8c has a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the mounting board socket openings 4 so that the plug member involved may be easily guided into the latter socket openings. The wide or inner end of the outer tapered portion 8c has a diameter greater than the socket openings 4. The body of the plug member 8 is provided with a longitudinal slot 8d `so that the plug member may be readily contracted when pressed into one of the socket openings 4. The outwardly haring intermediate portion 8b of each plug member projects substantially beyond the rear face of the indicia body so that itextends beyond the rear :face of the mounting board 2 when the plug memberis inserted in a mounting board socket opening 4. It is .apparent that the inclined surfaces of the intermediate and outer portions y8b and 8c of each plu-g member form camming surfaces which readily enable the plug member to be inserted Iinto or removed yfrom a mounting board socket opening by contraction of the wide slotted portion thereof, `and the resiliency of the plug member holds the associated indicia body securely upon the mounting board.

As previously indicated, one or more pairs of fingerreceiving recesses are ,provided in each indici-a body to enable it Vto be readily grasped and removed from the mounting board 2. =These recesses are most advantageously formed adjacent the outer portions of the marginal side walls 14 of the indicia bodies where they extend only part way through the side Walls 14. Thus, the outer faces or walls 12 of the indicia-forming elements are unbroken and the recesses 10 are not readily visible.

As previously indicated, in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the plug mem-bers, which are identilied by reference numeral 8', are mounted on 4the bodies of modified indicia-forming elements 6 so that they can be shifted in position on the backs of the indicia body involved, and the construction of the plug members 8 are modified from that shown in FIGS. 2-4. To this end, each'indicia body is provided with pairs of horiozntally spaced sockets 16'-16, one of the sockets of each pair being positioned at a point corresponding to the position of one of the sockets in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 and the other socket of each pair being identically spaced on the same side of the associated socket a `distance substantially less than the spacing between the adjacent columns of socket opening 4 in the mounting board 2. The various sockets are designed removably to receive the plug members and, to this end, are preferably tapped so that the associated plug members may be threaded into or out of the sockets. The plug members 8' are positioned in one or the other of the corresponding sockets in said pairs of sockets to provide the desired positioning of the indicia-forming element involved. Obviously, if desired, similar additional sockets spaced horizontally a small ,distance from the sockets shown in FIG. 6 could he added without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Although 4the plug members 8' usable with the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 5 through 7 may vary widely, in accordance with a preferred form of the invention each comprises a molded body of rubber or synthetic plastic material which is resilient and compressible. If neecssary, this plug member may be slotted .to obtain additional compressibility. The plug member 8 has a threaded neck portion 8a which threads into one of the sockets 16', an Unthreaded intermediate cylindrical portion `8b which is of somewhat greater diameter than the socket openings 4 of the mounting board 2 and a tapered outer portion 8c' of smaller size at its outer extremity than the socket openings 4 readily to guide the plug member in place Within the latter socket openings. 'Ihe resiliency of the cylindrical portion 8b of the plug member 8 maintains the plug member securely in place within one of the socket openings 4 of the mounting board.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10, a still further modiiied form of plug member 8 is shown constructed from a sheet metal stamping illustrated in FIG. 9. This sheet metal stamping has a pair of relatively wide sections 20-20 interconnected by a narrow web 22, and a pair of narrow end portions 24-24 extending longitudinally from the outer sides of the sections 2020. The two symmetrical halves of the sheet metal stamping are brought into confronting relation and formed into the shape shown best in FIG. 10 which includes a hollow segmental cylindrical base portion 8a, which is somewhat larger in diameter than the sockets 16" of the indicia body 6" with which they are to be used. The base portion 8a" is of suficient length to project beyond the rear face of the indicia body 6" where it lits snugly within a socket opening 4 of the mounting board 2. The narrow end portions 24 of the formed blank are bent outwardly and then inwardly to form an outwardly aring portion 8b and an inwardly flaring portion 8c" which serve a function similar to the corresponding portions 8b and 8c in the plug member shown in FIGS. 2 through 4.

It is apparent that the various forms of the present invention provide an attractive, rugged, three dimensional dosages display sign wherein horizontal and vertical adjustments of the spacing between the indicia-orming elements and replacement thereof can be simply accomplished from the front of the mounting board.

It should be understood that numerous modications may be made in the preferred forms of the invention above described without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desire to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1, A sign comprising a vertical mounting board having a plurality of socket openings distributed thereover, and separate indicia-forming elements secured to said mounting board, each of said indicia-forming elements comprising an indicia body having at least one pair of spaced plug-holding sockets on the back thereof, the spacing between said pair of plug-holding sockets being closer than the spacing ybetween adjacent socket openings of said mounting board, a plug member removably mounted in only one of the plug-holding sockets of said indicia body, the other plug-holding socket being devoid of a plug member and being adapted to receive said plug member 4to provide a limited adjustment in the spacing of the indicia-forming element, and said plug member extending into a socket opening of said mounting board to hold the indicia-forming element on said mountig board.

2. A sign comprising a vertical mounting board having a plurality of equally spaced socket openings distributed thereover, and separate indicia-forming elements secured to said mounting board, each of said indicia-forming elements comprising an indicia body having identical spaced pairs of spaced plug-holding sockets on the back thereof, the spacing between each pair of plug-holding sockets being closer than the spacing between adjacent sockets of said mounting board and the spacing between the corresponding sockets of said pairs of plug-holding sockets corresponding to the spacing of the socket openings in said mounting board, plug members removably mounted within one of the corresponding plug-holding sockets of said pairs of sockets, the other corresponding sockets of said pairs of sockets being devoid of plug members and being adapted to receive said plug members to provide a limited adjustment in the spacing of the indiciaforrning elements, and each plug member extending into a socket opening of said mounting board to hold the indicia-forming element in place on said mounting board.

3. A sign comprising a vertical mounting board having a plurality of spaced socket openings arranged in equally spaced columns, and individual indicia forming elements removably mounted upon said mounting board, each of said indicia-forming elements comprising an indicia body in the rear of which .are formed at least one pair of plugholding sockets horizontally spaced -a distance less than the spacing of adjacent columns of socket openings in said mounting board, a plug member removably inserted in yonly one of said pair of sockets in the indicia body and being insertable selectively in the other associated socket to provide a limited adjustment of the horizontal position of the indicia-forming element, yand said Plug member removably tting into a socket opening of said mounting board to secure the indicia-forming element to said mounting board.

4. A sign comprising `a vertical mounting board having a plurality of socket openings which are arranged thereon in equally spaced rows and columns, yand individual indicia-forming lelements removably mounted upon said mounting board, each of said indicia-forming elements comprising `an indicia body of suicient size to encompass several rows and columns of socket openings in said mounting board and in the rear `of which .are formed pairs of horizontally-spaced plug-holding sockets, the corresponding sockets of the pairs of sockets being spaced apart in corresponding relation to the spacing of the socket openings in the spaced rows and columns of socket openings in said mounting board and the spacing between each pair of .sockets in said indicia body being identical and less than the spacing between adjacent columns of socket openings in said mounting board, and resilient contractible plug members removably mounted in only one of the corresponding sockets of said pairs of sockets in the indicia body and being insertable selectively in the other sockets of the associated pair of sockets to provide a limited :adjustment of the horizontal position of the indicia-forming elem-ent, and said plug members itting into the socket openings of said mounting board to secure the indicia-forming element thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,395 Skaiie May 20, 1919 1,612,035 Lorenzo Dec. 28, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,150 France Aug. 23, 19'10 

1. A SIGN COMPRISING A VERTICAL MOUNTING BOARD HAVING A PLURALITY OF SOCKET OPENINGS DISTRIBUTED THEREOVER, AND SEPARATE INDICIA-FORMING ELEMENTS SECURED TO SAID MOUNTING BOARD, EACH OF SAID INDICIA-FORMING ELEMENTS COMPRISING AN INDICIA BODY HAVING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF SPACED PLUG-HOLDING SOCKETS ON THE BACK THEREOF, THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF PLUG-HOLDING SOCKETS BEING CLOSER THAN THE SPACING BETWEEN ADJACENT SOCKET OPENINGS OF SAID MOUNTING BOARD, A PLUG MEMBER REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN ONLY ONE OF THE PLUG-HOLDING SOCKETS OF SAID INDICIA BODY, THE OTHER PLUG-HOLDING SOCKET BEING DEVOID OF A PLUG MEMBER AND BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PLUG MEMBER TO PROVIDE A LIMITED ADJUSTMENT IN THE SPACING OF THE INDICIA-FORMING ELEMENT, AND SAID PLUG MEMBER EXTENDING INTO A SOCKET OPENING OF SAID MOUNTING BOARD TO HOLD THE INDICIA-FORMING ELEMENT ON SAID MOUNTING BOARD. 